Stability after mixed friendly results
Under the guidance of head coach Éric Chelle, Nigeria participated in two high-profile friendlies during the period under review. The three-time African champions secured a morale-boosting 2-1 victory over a higher-ranked Iran side, earning 5.34 ranking points. However, a 2-2 draw against Jordan resulted in a minor deduction of 1.81 points, leaving the team with a total of 1585.09 points.
The 26th spot remains Nigeria's highest global ranking in 16 years, a milestone first achieved in January 2026 following their bronze-medal finish at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
Continental standing and global leaders
On the African continent, the Super Eagles continue to hold the third-place position. The top five teams in Africa remain unchanged:
1. Morocco 🇲🇦 (8th globally)
2. Senegal 🇸🇳 (14th globally)
3. Nigeria 🇳🇬 (26th globally)
4. Algeria 🇩🇿 (28th globally)
5. Egypt 🇪🇬 (31st globally)
Notably, Morocco has maintained its elite status in the global top 10, while Senegal remains a dominant force despite dropping two places globally to 14th.
At the summit of the world rankings, there has been a significant shift as France has overtaken Spain to become the new world number one. Spain, Argentina, and Brazil continue to round out the top tier of international football.
Looking ahead
With the 2026 World Cup intercontinental play-off loss to DR Congo still fresh, the Super Eagles will now turn their attention to the 2027 AFCON qualifiers, scheduled to begin in September. The next edition of the FIFA Men’s World Ranking is set to be released on June 10, 2026.